Menu Plan Monday....

Back in the day when I could think straight I used to plan my menu a month in advance and literally do all my grocery shopping (except for fresh produce, milk, bread etc) in one day. Well I have kind of skipped that the past few months and I really want to get back on track with that... so this week I am joining my friends Pam and Megan who do a weekly blog thingie called Menu Plan Monday.

So here is my Menu Plan for this week on Menu Plan Monday:

Monday: Grilled Burgers and Brats w/ chips

Tuesday: Swedish meat balls over egg noodles

Wednesday: Polish Sausage, raw fries and corn on the cob

Thursday: Johnny Carino's Bowtie Festival w/ bread sticks and salad

Friday : Grilled Steak, sides unknown

Saturday: Ground Round Chicken Tortilla Soup w/ fresh Parker House Rolls

*thank you Megan for the awesome recipes for this week's menu plan*

Happy Memorial Day...

This weekend is Memorial Day.... a lot of people think that Memorial Day is simply the 'beginning of summer', for some it is also 'Graduation Weekend".... but there is much more to Memorial Day weekend than the beginning of the camping season.... Memorial Day is a day of reflection and remembrance. It is a day to remember all of our Fallen Heroes from all of the wars. It is a day to think about the families that will forever grieve for their lost loved one. It is a day to be thankful to those who have served and made the ultimate sacrifice... They fought and died to win the freedom and democracy that we Americans cherish so dearly. They also fought and died to bring that same freedom and democracy to the people of other countries as well.


So whether you are celebrating today or tomorrow with that first big BBQ of the season... please take a moment to remember all our heroes... both passed on and who are currently still with us and fighting for us...

WE THANK YOU TODAY AND ALWAYS... THE TRUE HEROES OF OUR COUNTRY... THANK YOU!!!

Thursday Threes: If I would have known...

The Sisterhood is doing a new schedule of postings and Thursday is Thursday Threes... todays is If I would have known. Basically its like we get to go back in time and tell our younger selves what we know now... boy this should be interesting... lol

I would go back in time and tell myself that it really is ok to be me...*hell still can't wrap my mind around this one so how could I really go back in time and convince and even more insecure person of this*

I wish I wouldn't have cared so much about simply existing in my junior high and high school years... I mean really. I pretended like I didn't care...but I did.

I would tell myself that quality is more important that quantity when it comes to friendship.

I would tell myself that I am worth it... I do deserve it ....

I would tell that scared 15 year old that everyone would be ok... and that she didn't need to cut herself off from everyone because she was afraid that the cancer was going to win...because it wouldn't.

I wish I could tell that foolish 21 year old that she didn't have to do it... I would shake her and tell her it wasn't expected of her and that it would be best if she didn't...

And lastly... I wish I could go back to a year ago and tell myself that it wasn't going to be ok... that it would be a huge struggle to even want to wake up in the morning, but that I would do it... that I would wake up and make the most of it... and that I would be strong for myself and for my kids...

If only we knew then... what we know now.

Brody or Beyonce .... hard to tell the difference

Chad and I are sooo proud... lol. Apparently we can't let Brody be present when the girls watch "Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakal"... lol

Swagger Wagon..

My friend Pam posted this video yesterday and I about died laughing.... it is awesome.

Every once in awhile when the kids aren't in the car with me ( I have a Ford Freestar, not a Sienna but I wish it was)... I have been known to turn the radio up a bit to loud and jam out... lol it has to be a sight to see... the mom in the mini van rocking out :)

Now I just need to get my friend Pam's teenager to show me how to get this song on my iPod... lol

feeling Worthless Wednesday...**Whining ahead so be warned**

Has anyone else had one of those days where you just felt like dog poop... and I don't mean like regular dog poop... I mean like the dog poop that has been smashed into a shoe, whipped on the grass and then ran over with the lawn mower???

I don't know what it is but lately I just can not get out of the funk that I am in... no matter what I try to do I just have this cloud above my head screaming at me that I'm not good enough, never be skinny enough (big duh here huh), never be pretty enough, not a good mom ... oh the list could go on for days.... but I am going to rain it back in here...

It seems like lately I get the feeling -- and granted this is probably just me being down on myself-- that everyone is judging every single move I make, my weight, my looks, my activities (with or without my family), my house keeping etc. I just am to the point where my line is gonna break.... :( 

I am hoping that now that the weather is getting nicer and the school year is winding down both for me and the kids (although I do have two summer classes this term) the kids and I will be able to refocus and step back and get back on track to being happier people...

I know that I have to step back and realize that I can only be in charge of myself... I can only be accountable for my own actions and do the things that I am able to do. I had learned how to say no.... but for some reason that ability has again disappeared so I really need to work on getting that back...

So now that I have gotten that off my chest I am hoping to have a better day....

March for Babies Event....

Our event was a total success!!!! We set a goal of $5000.00 for our team and while we didn't meet it...we got damn close:

We raised $4,046..... not too shabby if you ask me :)

Delainey herself raised $801 ... she also won the 'top youth walker award':

We had AMAZING weather and the event was a total success for the March of Dimes as well... we raised over $71,000.... ROCKN TIME!!!!

Here are some more pictures of our AMAZING event :)

Team Photo

we are missing 10 from the picture... but we had a CREW!!!

Thank you to everyone who supported us this year.... we look forward to doing it all again next year :) Thank you all again....

Facebook Challenge..... (FOR DELAINEY)

My amazing friends on Facebook have gotten wind of Delainey and her mission to raise $600 for the March of Dimes for her personal March for Babies Fundraiser... well there has been a BIG challenge issued (a DARE in fact)... the first person donated $20 and dared for someone to meet or raise... well the second person raised to $21 so if we can keep this going Delainey may just meet her goal of $600 before she even gets home from school... you guys... this is SUPER important to her... you have no idea.

So if you are at all able to help Delainey please can you do it??? www.marchforbabies.org/delaineykrumwiede at last 'call' the current match or raise was at $22 $25... if you do participate in this challenge there is an added incentive of FREE TASTEFULLY SIMPLE PRODUCT!!!!! Just comment here on the blog to let me know ... also you don't have to donate that much...every PENNY helps... for every donation of $5 you will receive an entry to win FREE TASTEFULLY SIMPLE PRODUCT...

www.marchforbabies.org/delaineykrumwiede

Thanks folks....

Delainey's call for help....

Delainey is desperate.... you should see this kid. She is running around the house looking for money... any money... heck the kid thought she had won the lottery last night when she found a bag of pennies that was supposed to get moved into their piggy banks awhile ago....

You see Delainey is on a mission.... she is on a mission the END PREMATURITY...

Most 6 year olds have no idea what prematurity is much less that there is a way to help fight against it. If you ask Delainey was being premature means she will tell you " It means you wanted to be with your mommy and daddy so bad that you wouldn't stay in your mommy's tummy until you were supposed to be born. You were in a BIG hurry to be born."

Delainey unlike most 6 year olds knows the pain of prematurity... she knows that her cousin Ella is an angel because she was born too soon, she knows that her cousins Ryan and Taryn miss their baby girl Ella so much and she knows that they are sad because Ella is with Jesus instead of them. Delainey knows how important it is to raise money for the March of Dimes... she even chooses to attend March of Dimes events rather than go to Birthday Parties because she wants to "save babies"....

Can you help Delainey reach her goal?? She set a goal of $600 and she is currently $380 away from it.... so if she could get just 10 people to donate $40 (to represent a 40 week pregnancy) she would actually not only meet her goal but she would exceed it.... can you help her?

www.marchforbabies.org/delaineykrumwiede

She thanks you :)

Happy Mother's Day

Totally Ticks Me Off Tuesday....

ahhh.... its Tuesday... hold on to your hats for some bitching and moaning folks....

• LAUNDRY
  - it is never ending
  - people don't appreciate when it is done
  - people just expect you to do it
  - people don't put their clothes in a spot to be washed and then bitch when they run out of said type of garments (ie socks)
  - did I mention it was never ending...
• when my children walk up to me when I am working on a specific project and just stare at me.... I mean seriously if you want something please say "excuse me" or "hey" or hell after the past few days I'd even take "YO I NEED SOMETHING"... they have no problem interrupting me when I am on the phone or talking to someone....
• the statement of "alone time".... if you want alone time you are going to need to leave the house. Don't expect to be left 'alone' if you are going to be sitting on the couch or are in the front yard or even down stairs... 
• on the same 'subject' of alone time... I don't count the time you spend at work as alone time so don't you dare count the time that I am 'in school' as alone time...and even if you want to go that route... you still get WAY MORE, but I am ok wit that. I wanted to be the Stay at home parent... I did... but I need time to recharge too...
• the 'parenting clock' that seems to have been installed in our house without my knowledge. Apparently when you spend 'time' parenting you get to clock in and then hold it against other members of the household when you feel like it... for example " I did this 4 times and you only did it once"....

I think that is good for this week....  see ya folks next week...

In honor of all my BabyLost Mothers....

Today is International Babylost Mother's Day... today is a day for mother's who have lost a child (whether during pregnancy or after) to be able to celebrate that they too are mothers. You are always a mother... no matter where your baby is or how long your baby was with you.... so to you all today.... You are an amazing mother... now and forever.... My heart, prayers and love are with you today and always....